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  • First team

    Manager previews the visit of Livingston

  • First team

    Storylines: Motherwell v Livingston

  • Club

    Ian St John (1938 – 2021)

  • First team

    How to watch Motherwell v Livingston

  • First team

    Next up: Livingston

  • First team

    Manager reacts to win at Hibernian

  • First team

    Hibernian 0-2 Motherwell

  • First team

    Manager previews the trip to Hibernian

  • First team

    ‘Winning is what matters’

  • First team

    Storylines: Hibernian v Motherwell

  • First team

    Manager previews the visit of Livingston

    “Our first objective is to stay up. That’s still the case.

    “We have to keep working really hard.”

    Graham Alexander looks ahead to the weekend visit of Livingston.

  • First team

    Storylines: Motherwell v Livingston

    Storylines: Motherwell v Livingston

    Motherwell host Livingston in the final home game at Fir Park before the Scottish Premiership split.

    Here are the key topics going into the fixture.

    Performances to build on

    Motherwell were left despondent after two home losses to Hamilton Academical and St Johnstone in early February.

    With difficult trips to St Mirren and Hibernian following, it was going to require a shift in performances to get back on track.

    But Graham Alexander’s men did just that. A 0-0 draw in Paisley was accompanied by a dogged team showing. Then, a 2-0 victory at third-placed Hibernian paired performance with points.

    The manager, though, is keen to stress nothing has been accomplished yet, with the team still needing to put on similar showings and get the necessary points to be lifted up the table.

    Lions licking wounds

    Livingston went into the weekend on the verge of a second major honour, facing St Johnstone in the Betfred Cup final.

    A 1-0 loss at Hampden meant there would be no repeat of their heroics in 2004, with Shaun Rooney’s first-half goal settling the tie.

    No wins in five – added to by a midweek home loss to Rangers before coming to Fir Park – has Livi still needing a final push over the line to secure a top-six spot, but with one point from their last two games likely to be sufficient.

    Opening up gaps

    At the other end of the table, Motherwell are still looking over their shoulder knowing points are needed to keep a safe distance above the bottom pack.

    Sitting seven points above the play-off spot and eight off the bottom, Motherwell’s fate is in their hands, but more points are definitely needed to be able to breathe easier.

  • Club

    Ian St John (1938 – 2021)

    Ian St John (1938 – 2021)

    We are deeply saddened by the passing of Ian St John.

    Aged 82, the legendary Ancell Babe was a local boy who made waves at Fir Park and went on to great things after starting his career with the club.

    Born in Motherwell, St John was at Hampden as a 13-year-old to witness the Steelmen lift the Scottish Cup for the very first time in 1952.

    Five years later he would sign for his boyhood heroes. Over the course of the next four years, he would torment defences across the country, netting 80 goals in 113 league games.

    His hat-trick in a League Cup tie against Hibernian in 1959, which was despatched in little more than two-and-a-half minutes, gained St John massive exposure.

    But his consistent rate of finishing had already alerted the attention of the international selectors and a host of interested managers, and it was in that same year he was awarded the first of his caps for Scotland.

    Making his international bow at the age of just 20, Ian would go on to net nine times in 21 appearances for his country.

    In 1961, St John signed for Liverpool for £37,500, then the Anfield side’s record transfer fee paid. That sale would help finance the reconstruction of the main stand at Fir Park.

    He would go on to enjoy a glorious decade with Bill Shankly’s side as they were transformed from the Second Division also-rans that Shankly inherited.

    A Scottish Football Hall of Fame member, Ian was tempted back to Lanarkshire in 1973 as manager, putting together one of Motherwell’s most famous front-line partnerships in his former team-mate Bobby Graham and Willie Pettigrew.

    Sadly St John’s time in the dugout at Fir Park would last little more than a year when he was lured to Portsmouth by promises of finance and support that well outstripped what Motherwell could offer.

    Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.

    Paying tribute

    “Like so many of us I was introduced to Motherwell and Fir Park by my dad,” Motherwell chairman Jim McMahon said of St John’s passing.

    “The Saturday regime of catching the Law and Carluke supporters bus at the cross, then the journey down and the walk into the ground, is one I can still recall vividly. It is a memory I treasure.

    “That was the era of the Ancell babes – a fabulous collection of players. But my hero, and in my view the greatest player I have seen in our colours, was Ian St John.

    “I was lucky enough to see almost all his games and his technical skill, pace, vision and ambition cemented him as the player I wanted to be

    “I was even luckier to get to know Ian in later life and to play golf with him as a special present for my 50th birthday. It’s often said that’s it dangerous to meet one’s heroes, but in my case, he was everything I expected – funny, charming, courteous and true to his roots and upbringing. He was a gentleman.

    “I will miss him – he was a big part of my childhood.

    “I am really sorry that we can’t have a crowd at our next home game to honour him but we will do that as soon as we get back to normality.

    “Lots of words are in danger of being devalued – Ian St John is a legend.”

    In a statement, his family said: “It is with a heavy heart that we have to inform you that after a long illness we have lost a husband, father and grandfather.

    “He passed away peacefully with his family at his bedside. We would like to thank all the staff at Arrowe Park Hospital for their hard work and dedication during these very difficult times.

    “The family would be grateful for privacy at this extremely sad time.”

  • First team

    How to watch Motherwell v Livingston

    How to watch Motherwell v Livingston

    Motherwell v Livingston is available to watch worldwide on Saturday.

    If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, a live stream of the game is available to buy on a pay-per-view basis for £12.

    Season ticket holders can watch the game for free, as usual, at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

    International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

    Kick-off at Fir Park in the Scottish Premiership match is at 3pm.

  • First team

    Next up: Livingston

    Next up: Livingston

    Livingston are the visitors to Fir Park on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership.

    Kick-off at Fir Park is at 3pm.

    Watch live

    If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, a live stream of the game is available to buy on a pay-per-view basis for £12.

    Season ticket holders can watch the game for free, as usual, at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

    International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

    Tale of the tape

    Motherwell have the upper hand in the fixture so far in the 2020/21 season.

    The Steelmen were pegged back twice in a 2-2 draw at Fir Park back at the start of the campaign, with David Turnbull and Allan Campbell netting for the hosts.

    Then in West Lothian in late October, Callum Lang and Tony Watt netted in an impressive 2-0 victory.

    Form guide

    Two impressive performances away from home against St Mirren and Hibernian yielded a 0-0 draw and a 2-0 victory respectively for Motherwell.

    After the disappointment of crushing, back-to-back home defeats to Hamilton and St Johnstone, Graham Alexander’s men have responded.

    Livi lost the Betfred Cup final to St Johnstone on Sunday, killing hopes of their first major silverware since winning the same competition in 2004.

    David Martindale’s men are without a win in five, going on to lose 1-0 at home to Rangers on Wednesday night.

  • First team

    Manager reacts to win at Hibernian

    “We deserved that win. We were brilliant in how we competed and took our chances.”

    Graham Alexander hails the team’s performance as all three points come back along the M8 in a 2-0 win at Hibernian.

  • First team

    Hibernian 0-2 Motherwell

    Hibernian 0-2 Motherwell

    Motherwell earned all three points with a brilliantly-deserved 2-0 win away at Hibernian.

    Goals from Jordan Roberts and Devante Cole delivered the win at Easter Road in a controlled, high-energy performance from Graham Alexander’s side.

    Motherwell again went unchanged following the 0-0 draw at St Mirren on Wednesday night, with club captain Gallagher fit enough to return amongst the substitutes.

    The visitors dominated the opening proceedings, pushing high up the pitch and forcing the Hibs backline into errors.

    Watt found the side netting and Campbell saw a shot blocked before the opener deservedly arrived in the 25th minute.

    Motherwell’s front three of Watt, Cole and Roberts converged on the middle of the pitch and, gaining possession, Watt slipped an exceptional, pinpoint pass through for Roberts co chase down.

    Getting ahead of his man, he had time to prepare himself for the one-on-one with Marciano, before picking his spot to open the scoring from 15 yards.

    Campbell went close with a header as Motherwell continued to dominate the bulk of the attacking play in the first 45, although Hibs grew into proceedings with some crosses which kept the ‘Well backline on its toes.

    If Motherwell started the first half well, they couldn’t have scripted their start to the second.

    With 45 seconds on the clock, Roberts found himself on the ball on the left corner of the box. Attracting defenders towards him, he slipped the ball to Cole just 10 yards to his right.

    Cole spun away, surging into the area before picking his spot in the far right corner of the net to make it 2-0.

    Hibs immediately sent on the cavalry, with Nisbit, Gogic and Porteous being introduced to play.

    The hosts would grow and grow, with ‘Well sitting deeper and looking to hit on the counter.

    That prompted a change of shape with 20 minutes to go, with Gallagher introduced to the fray after injury for Watt, putting five in defence.

    Motherwell: Kelly, O’Donnell, Magloire, Lamie, Carroll (McGinley), Maguire, Campbell, Crawford, Cole, Roberts (Lawless), Watt (Gallagher).

    Subs not used: Morrison, Devinem Cornelius, Polworth, Hastie, Long.

  • First team

    Manager previews the trip to Hibernian

    “We’ve set the benchmark. Now it’s down to us to push to those levels again.”

    Graham Alexander speaks ahead of Saturday’s trip to face Hibernian.

  • First team

    ‘Winning is what matters’

    “Winning is what matters. We all know that, and we’ll fight for the next one on Saturday.”

    Jordan Roberts looks ahead to Motherwell’s trip to Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership.

  • First team

    Storylines: Hibernian v Motherwell

    Storylines: Hibernian v Motherwell

    Motherwell go to Hibernian on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership.

    Here are the key topics going into the fixture.

    In-form Hibernian

    Jack Ross’ men are flying of late in their quest to secure a European spot.

    Hibs have won their last four matches, beating Dundee United, St Mirren, Aberdeen and Hamilton Academical.

    Along the way, they’ve conceded just once, scoring eight.

    Positive signs

    Having lost back-to-back home matches against Hamilton Academical and then St Johnstone, Motherwell needed a reaction when they went to St Mirren on Wednesday night.

    Securing a point in a 0-0 draw, a vastly-improved showing should give encouragement from a match where the visitors comfortably could have taken the three points.

    The key, according to manager Graham Alexander, is now maintaining those performance levels in the quest to keep ahead of the bottom pack.

    Race towards the split

    Saturday marks Motherwell’s third-last match before the league split, with Hibernian a game behind.

    For the Steelmen, a top six finish is still mathematically possible. Seven points separate them from sixth-placed St Mirren, with nine points still available.

    Dundee United and St Johnstone, however, are also in the hunt and have more points on the board.

    Looking in the other direction, Motherwell are five points above the bottom two places and know a win can open even more daylight.